Fountain pen



Aug. 20, 1946. I KELLEY 2,405,958

FOUNTAIN PEN Filed March 11, 1944 Inventor Patented Aug. 20, 1 946 fUNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Joseph .1. Kelley, Tucson, Application March 11, 1944, Serial N. 526,022"

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fountain pens, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a fountain pen with novel and eiiicient means for enclosing and protecting the point of the pen when the latter is not in use.

In accordance with the present invention, the pen point enclosing and protecting device includes a barrel fitted over and having threaded engagement with the barrel of the fountain pen proper. Thus, by causing relative rotation of the fountain pen proper and the barrel of the pen point enclosing and protecting device, they may be relatively moved longitudinally so as to either cause the pen point of the fountain pen proper to be projected outwardly beyond the outer end of the barrel of the enclosing and protecting device or inwardly beyond the outer end of the latter, depending upon the direction of relative rotation of said fountain pen proper and the barrel of the enclosing and protecting device. The outer end of the barrel of the pen point enclosing and protecting device is open and has a spring-closed closure disc which will automatically close when the pen point is retracted inwardly of the barrel of said enclosing and protecting device.

Other objects and specific features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is an elevational View of a fountain pen constructed in accordance with the present invention, the fountain pen proper being in retracted position with respect to the barrel of the pen point enclosing and protecting device, as desired when the fountain pen is not in use.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1,'partly broken away, with the parts relatively shifted so that the point of the fountain pen proper is projected outwardly of the outer end of the barrel of the point-enclosing and protecting device.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a central longitudinal section taken on line i-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

1 Claim. (01. 120-49) v 2. Referring in detail to the drawing, 5-indicates the fountain pen proper, which may be of any preferred or" Well known specific construction having a filling device whose actuating member is disposed" at the inner end of the fountain pen and normally covered by means of a removable cover cap 6. To avoid accidental loss of the pen, th cap may have an attached chain 'i normally wound upon a conventional spring reel 8 having a pin 9 for attachment to the user garment. The present invention embodies a device for enclosing and protecting the pen point II] of the fountain pen proper when the latter is not in use, and such device includes an open-ended barrel II fitted on the outer end portion of the barrel of the fountain pen proper 5. The inner end portion of the barrel II is provided with internal threads, as at I 2, engageable with spaced external threaded portions I3 and I4 provided on the intermediate portion of the barrel of the fountain pen proper, and the portion of the latter barrel between the threaded portions I3 and I4 is smooth, as at I5. Thus, by relatively rotating the barrel l I and the fountain pen proper, they may be relatively shifted longitudinally so as to retract the barrel II with respect to the fountain pen proper and cause projection of the pen point I0 outwardly of the outer end of the barrel II, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, so that the fountain pen may be used for writing purposes. On the other hand, by reversing the direction of relative rotation of the fountain pen proper and barrel II, they may be relatively shifted in the opposite direction so that the pen point I0 is retracted to a position within the barrel II, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, so that it is enclosed and protected against accidental damage. In order to close the outer end of the barrel I I when the point II] is in the retracted position of Figures 1 and 5, said outer end of the barrel II is provided with a spring-closed closure disc I6 hinged, as at I1, to a band l1 secured on the barrel II and adapted to automatically close when the pen point I0 moves to the retracted position with respect to the barrel II. This disc is preferably of concavo-convex form, thereby enabling the user to fit the end of the index finger therein while utilizing the thumb nail of the same hand in opening the disc I6 preparatory to projecting the pen point I0 outwardly of the barrel II. It will be noted that the threaded portion I4 disengages from the barrel I l and moves out of the latter to the position shown in Figure 1 when the pen point is in retracted position, as desired when the pen is not in use. In order to limit the amount of relative longitudinal movement which may be ordinarily given to the fountain pen proper with respect to the barrel H, removable set screws I8 are threaded through the barrel H at a point between the threaded portions l3 and ll of the barrel of the fountain pen proper, said screws being adapted to engage the threaded portion [3 when the pen point i retracted and to engage the threaded portion l4 when the pen point is projected, thus providing the necessary limiting action. However, should separation of the fountain pen proper and the barrel H be desired for purposes of renewal, repair or cleaning, this may be done pursuant to removal of the set screws l8. An important feature of the pres ent invention is that the pen point enclosing and protecting device normally remains in assembled relation to the fountain pen proper and is not detachable therefrom so as to be readily misplaced or lost. The construction is such that it may be conveniently and easily actuated, and the construction is also comparatively simple and durable. It is believed that the construction and manner of use of the present invention will be readily apparent from the foregoing description,

and minor changes in the details of construction illustrated and described are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

A fountain pen comprising a fountain pen proper having a barrel and provided with a pen point at one end of said barrel, and an enclosing and protecting device for said pen point including a second barrel fitted over the outer portion of said pen barrel and having threaded engagement with the latter, whereby the pen and the second barrel may be relatively shifted longitudinally to selectively project the pen point outwardly of or retract it within said second barrel upon relative rotation of said pen and said second barrel, said threaded engagement embodying spaced external threaded portions on the pen barrel having threaded engagement in the inner end portion of said second barrel, and set screws in the second barrel cooperating with said spaced threaded portions to limit the relative longitudinal movement between the pen proper and said second barrel. 

